Four Dedicated MHI Members Honored During MHI’s 2015 Annual Meeting

Arlington, VA, October 8, 2015 – Four members of the manufactured housing industry were honored on October 5th for outstanding service during the 2015 MHI Annual Meeting held on October 4-6, 2015 in Boca Raton, FL.

Steven P. Adler, President & CEO of Murex Properties, was presented the MHI Chairman’s Award by MHI Chairman Nathan Smith. Adler was awarded for his leadership of the National Communities Council (NCC), his persistence in pursuing solutions to the challenges imposed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and his many hours of dedication to MHI efforts. His business is known for delivering high value to residents. Adler founded Murex Properties with operations in four states, focusing on communities serving the 55 and older market with an emphasis on unparalleled customer service, doing the right thing, and continuously striving to improve.

Manuel Santana, Director of Engineering, Cavco Industries, Inc., received the Frank Walter Standards Award which is selected by the MHI Technical Activities Committee. He was awarded for his efforts in representing MHI on Capitol Hill when he testified before the House Financial Services Committee about the need for balanced regulation and for accessible and affordable financing for those seeking to purchase manufactured housing; his efforts on MHI’s Technical Activities Committee and on the Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee where he provided invaluable leadership, technical assistance and vision; and his service on the Department of Energy’s National Regulatory Advisory Committee’s working group on manufactured housing energy standards.

Santana is a registered Professional Engineer in 15 states. He joined Cavco Industries, Inc. in 2005 as Director of Engineering and came full circle with Cavco’s purchase of Fleetwood Homes in 2009, becoming responsible for both companies’ engineering departments and working closely with the engineering departments for Palm Harbor Homes. His responsibilities have recently expanded with Cavco’s recent purchase of Fairmont Homes.

Marla Y. McAfee, Executive Director, Tennessee Housing Association, received the State Association Executive of the Year award which is a peer award selected by the manufactured housing state association executives. She was awarded for her actions that have made a difference for the industry nationally such as working to develop ‘industry champions,’ of their U.S. House of Representatives members and Senators, and involvement with Congressman Fincher’s office on the industry’s Dodd-Frank reform legislation, H.R. 650, which passed the House this year.

Most recently, federal legislation H.R. 3135 to amend the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA), was introduced by Congresswoman Diane Black. The introduction of this legislation can be traced back to a plant tour at a Fleetwood facility where she brought up the problem of duplicative energy standards as one more hurdle for the industry. The Congresswoman quickly took interest and promised her constituents she would assist the industry if she could. And as promised, she delivered by introducing H.R. 3135.

McAfee effectively dealt with the state’s loss and replacement of the head of its State Administrative Agency, and the inadvertent omission of the renewal of the HUD cooperative agreements for the manufactured housing programs in the state.

Andy Gallagher, Executive Director of the West Virginia Housing Institute, Inc. received the Jim Moore Excellence in Communications Award, presented by the Manufactured Housing Executives Council (MHEC).

This award was created by MHEC to honor Jim Moore, the long-time executive director of the Pennsylvania Manufactured Housing Association, who was known for his unique way of communicating positions of the industry.

Gallagher follows all the rules for good communication and, like Jim Moore, has a knack with the pen. Through communications to his members or local, state or federal regulators, Gallagher is known for providing information with context that is complete in facts, concise in style, and having clarity when laying out an issue.